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Tiger Corridor Threatened by Mega Project
9 Nov
Summary
- 511 hectares of forest land to be diverted for 1,800 MW project.
- Project impacts North Eastern Tiger Corridor of Panna Tiger Reserve.
- Over 1.32 lakh trees to be felled for the new project.
An 1,800 MW pumped storage project is poised for approval, with a Union Environment Ministry panel recommending in-principle clearance for the diversion of 511 hectares of forest land. This land includes a critical section of the North Eastern Tiger Corridor within the Panna Tiger Reserve, connecting it to Ranipur Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh.
The project, proposed by Sri Siddharth Infratech and Services across Satna and Panna districts, involves the felling of approximately 1.32 lakh trees. The Forest Advisory Committee reviewed the proposal, noting that over 211 hectares of the required forest land are within a tiger corridor approved by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
Despite concerns raised by field officers regarding potential wildlife corridor fragmentation, the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife recommended the project with specific conditions. These include constructing wildlife overpasses across the Baghain River. Compensatory afforestation efforts are planned, with 531.84 hectares of non-forest land identified for plantation.
